County · 15th Judicial Circuit
Start an LLC in Stafford County, Virginia
Stafford County businesses form an LLC with the State Corporation Commission for $100, not with the county. In 2024 Stafford County had 3,280 business establishments and 46,071 jobs, its general sales tax rate is 5.3 percent, and the Clerk of the 15th Circuit Court is Kathy M. Sterne at P.O. Box 69, 1300 Courthouse Road, Stafford, VA 22555-0069. Our Starter package is $149 plus the SCC fee.
Last verified: November 10, 2026, against official Virginia sources.
Establishments (2024)
3,280
Jobs (2024)
46,071
Sales tax
5.3%
Circuit Court Clerk
(540) 658-8750
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Virginia filings for owners. We are not the Virginia State Corporation Commission and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Virginia filings for owners. We are not the Virginia State Corporation Commission and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.
Doing business in Stafford County
Stafford County sits along Interstate 95 between Prince William County and Fredericksburg, with about 169,000 residents, 3,280 business establishments and 46,071 jobs in 2024. Marine Corps Base Quantico extends into the county, and defense contractors, veteran-owned businesses and home-based trades are common among the companies we form here.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court is at 1300 Courthouse Road in Stafford. The independent City of Fredericksburg lies just across the Rappahannock River to the south, so check whether an address is in Stafford County before you apply for a local license.
Stafford is not in a regional sales tax area, so taxable sales are at 5.3 percent. Veterans forming a business often want a certificate of good standing for contract registrations; it costs $6 from the SCC and we can order it with your formation.
Official sourceStafford County Circuit Court Clerk
The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Stafford County records deeds and land records, keeps court files, and records the SCC certificate of a name change or merger for property the company owns there ($10 recording fee under § 13.1-1067). The office does not form companies.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Office | Clerk of the Circuit Court, Stafford County |
| Clerk | Kathy M. Sterne |
| Judicial circuit | 15th |
| Address | P.O. Box 69, 1300 Courthouse Road, Stafford, VA 22555-0069 |
| Phone | (540) 658-8750 |
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Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Virginia filings for owners. We are not the Virginia State Corporation Commission and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.
Stafford County business numbers
Establishment and employment counts are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; population is the Census Bureau's 2024 estimate.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Business establishments, 2024 annual average | 3,280 |
| Employment, 2024 annual average | 46,071 |
| Jobs per establishment | 14.0 |
| Population, July 2024 estimate | 168,919 |
| Residents per establishment | 51 |
| Rank among Virginia counties by establishments | #10 |
Stafford County sales tax and business license
Stafford County is outside Virginia's regional sales tax areas, so Virginia Tax lists the general 5.3 percent rate. Groceries and essential personal hygiene items are taxed at 1 percent statewide.
With more than 50,000 residents, Stafford County's business license fee cannot exceed $50 under § 58.1-3703; any license tax on gross receipts is set locally.
| Component | Rate |
|---|---|
| State sales and use tax | 4.3% |
| Local option | 1% |
| General rate in Stafford | 5.3% |
Forming the company, step by step
- Check the name against the SCC's records, ignoring endings like LLC and Inc.
- File Articles of Organization with the State Corporation Commission: $100 for an LLC, or $75 for a corporation with up to 25,000 authorized shares.
- Name a registered agent who qualifies under § 13.1-1015. Ours is $199 a year.
- Get an EIN from the IRS, then open a business bank account.
- Apply for the local business license with your city, county or town.
- Pay the $50 annual registration fee each year by the last day of your formation month.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stafford in Northern Virginia's 6 percent sales tax area?
No. Virginia Tax lists Stafford at the general 5.3 percent rate.
Can a service member stationed elsewhere form a Stafford LLC?
Yes. Owners do not have to live in Virginia, but the registered agent must qualify under § 13.1-1015, which an entity agent like ours does.
What does it cost to form an LLC in Stafford County?
$100 to the SCC plus our package: Starter $149, Pro $299 or Complete $399. Add $199 a year for a registered agent unless you choose Complete.
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Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Virginia filings for owners. We are not the Virginia State Corporation Commission and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Virginia filings for owners. We are not the Virginia State Corporation Commission and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.